§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many representations he has received to introduce a national Department of Health and Social Security test to provide proof of deafness; and whether he has any plans to do so.
§ Mr. RossiNone, and my right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such a test.
"Deafness" is not an absolute concept and the choice of any test to provide "proof of deafness" would depend Upon the purpose for which that proof was required. There is a wide range of hearing impairments involving both the range and the quality of sound heard. Moreover, the problems experienced by people with hearing difficulties depend not only upon their hearing defect but upon how far they can be helped by personal hearing and other aids and their social and occupational circumstances. I do not see that an all-purpose national test would be either practicable or helpful.